Daily News’ final high school softball top 10 rankings
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The last regular-season Daily News softball rankings for 2021.
1. Westlake (17-2): Talk about a statement game. Kylie Chung’s no-hitter against rival Oaks Christian locked down the program’s second Marmonte League title, and of course, the No. 1 spot in the prestigious Daily News rankings. Warriors enter the CIF Southern Section playoffs with a head of steam as the No. 3 seed will host Buena on Thursday.
2. Valencia (15-0): First Santa Clarita, now the world. Vikings held off Saugus in another thriller to complete an unbeaten season in its Santa Clarita-only pandemic schedule. Their first out-of-area test will be a home game against La Serna in the cutthroat Division 1 playoffs.
3. Oaks Christian (18-3): Time for Lions to turn the page from Marmonte League regular-season finale against Westlake and focus on the Division 2 playoffs. Ever-dangerous Lions host San Dimas on Thursday.
4. El Camino Real (12-3): Loss to Birmingham probably costs Conquistadors the No. 1 seed in the L.A. City Section playoffs, but an impressive 2-0 victory over Crescenta Valley shows that they are ready to make a run at the program’s 17th City title. Brackets will be announced Wednesday.
5. Crescenta Valley (15-4): Another dramatic ending helped CV top Arcadia 6-3 in eight innings for the Pacific League title as Devon Medina delivered an RBI double and scored the tying run on a wild pitch on a daring decision to force extra innings. CV hosts Royal in the Division 1 opener Thursday and has a chance to avenge a 5-3 loss.
6. Sierra Canyon (16-1): Trailblazers closed regular season with convincing victories over Paraclete and Vasquez and look like serious CIF title contenders as the No. 2 seed in the Division 3 playoffs. Trailblazers host the Village Christian-Charter Oak wild-card winner on Thursday.
7. Louisville (16-3): Like Westlake, Louisville made a statement in its Mission League finale to beat Notre Dame 11-1 for the league title. Royals are the No. 4 seed in Division 3 and host the Bonita-Paloma Valley wild-card winner on Thursday.
8. Saugus (11-4): Centurions nearly stunned Valencia with a late rally, then took down Hart to secure second place in the Foothill League and enter the Division 1 playoffs with some positivity. Saugus travels to Pioneer League champion South Torrance on Thursday.
9. Notre Dame (14-3): Knights missed their chance for a Mission League title with a disappointing 11-1 loss to Louisville, but look like CIF title favorites as the top seed in the Division 4 playoffs. They host Paraclete on Thursday in their playoff opener.
T10. Newbury Park (12-8)/Simi Valley (12-7): Too similar to break the tie. Newbury Park has a quality victory over Westlake. Simi Valley has a quality win over Camarillo. They split two meetings this season. Let’s let the playoffs break the tie. Newbury Park travels to fourth-seeded Esperanza in the Division 1 playoffs, and Simi Valley travels to Valle Vista League champion Diamond Ranch in the Division 2 playoffs.
Bubble teams: Royal (11-5), Hart (10-5), Boroughs (11-9), Burbank (11-9), Chaminade (10-8), Heritage Christian (10-6), Kennedy (9-1); Granada Hills (9-8); Birmingham (9-6).
–Daily News softball rankings, May 24